I'm a consultant in one of the big 4 in the UK, and am planning to move to Australia. Can anyone give me advice on how best make the move, e.g. internal transfer, quit my job and look for a new one there, use a recruitment agency, etc.? What are the leading consultancies (general/strat) in Australia? Which city offers the best opportunities? I'm a (non-UK) EU national, do I need a visa / work permit before I apply, or are companies generally willing to sort this out?Any info gratefully received!

Hey there I actually used to live in Sydney for two years and i know the ins and outs of applying for visas etc. The first thing you should do if your serious about the move is apply for a skilled migration visa if you type into google "migration visa to Austrailia" something should come up. Then take the online test you will more than likely pass once you have done that you need to pay a fee to the migaration site in order for them to handle your visa this can take up to a year. While waiting on that I would advise you to use Michael page as a way of finding a job there probably the best. The alternative would be to go through your firm which could make things easier but would they want you to leave thats the question???

Tony - Thanks for your insights, it's very helpful. Could anyone volunteer any information on my other questions:1. Who are the key players in the Australian consulting industry - besides the obvious ones (IBM/DC/CG/McK/ACN/BAH/BCG/PA)?2. Which city offers the best opportunities (work & outside) for consultants?

Asutralian market is dominated by the big global firms- IBM is particularly huge. Lots of very small (2 guys who worked toghether and decided they could do it better) type firms, but the ones you list are the market players locally. IBM particularly strong, is a current focus area for PA.As for best cities- Sydney, Sydney, Sydney! Though the guys from Melbourne would disagree with me (in their delightful 'Kath and Kim' accents...)

I'm not sure about the big companys outside the ones you mentioned but Sydney is by far the best city for both work and play you simply need to put your chosen career into a search engine for Australian jobs and you'll see what I mean they are all there. If you consider the concentration of the population actually live on the East Coast and Brisbane is just a big country style town with not much happening in it, in terms of business Sydney is by far the clear winner offering a health work - life balance surrounded by cristal clear water and white beaches (excluding bondi) melbourne is a good city too but is abit more relaxed than sydney and the jobs are far harder to come by. Go for Sydney trust me

Hi Everyone,Thanks for being pro Sydney - despite living in Melbourne, i would tend to agree that Sydney is more international (and more expensive by Australian Standards!). However, out of the firms you listed - most are reasonably present, but companies like PA are quite small locally. A local firm for ex big 4 tend to be ones like 'sms consulting' - quite a solid rep around town and may also be worth considering. Another International firm that seems to be doing very well is Bain - however i believe that most of their work is based out of Melb.

I'd urge you to consider Perth. Perth and Brisbane are the cities benefiting most from the resources boom and also offer great lifestyle / cost of living benefits. I moved here in 2003 from the UK and am now a Partner in a medium sized (80 people) firm. We recruit from the UK and have about 15 Brits in the team. Mostly people who had already made plans to come here and had their own visas - but we can (and do) sponsor people directly. My advice would be to make plans and fix dates etc for a move, and then start talking to people 1-2 months prior to arriving. We are going to put up a page on our website (www.changecorproation.com.au) giving some general advice and pointers on how to make the move etc. There are some v.good tier 2 firms in Strategy, BPR, IT and services etc located here and in Sydney and Melbourne – generally advertising regularly on www.seek.com.au

Thanks for your replies, it's quite rare to get such good, balanced advice on this forum. Generally people hi-jack a thread just to slag others off for typos & grammatical errors.See you Down Under in a couple of years' time!

Shouldn't that be hijack?

Robe, I couldn't agree with you more about Perth, whcih is hwy we are settling there later this year. We arrive in Perth (for an initial couple of weeks) on Thursday evening (missing your company's careers do by 24 hours!!). How can I get to see you??

SIKDER ALI AFZAL1022 Indian Trace Circle Apt 204, Riviera Beach, Florida-33407 Phone: 561-863-1074 sikderafzal@yahoo.comECONOMICS, FINANCE, POLICY & PLANNING FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYST25+ Years of Experience in Economic, Financial and Socio-Economic Analysis, Management, Writing of Reports, and Research, Interaction, Policy Making & Planning, Sales, etc.Enhancing Financial & Socio-Economic Analysis, Planning, Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation Services for Growth & ProfitsAreas of Strength in Project ManagementSales of commodities and assistance to Manager in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA.Professional works in socio-economic, marketing, financial, technological & environmental, feasibility studies, baseline/benchmark surveys, data collection, processing & analysis and writing survey/study reports with graphics & recommendations.Appropriate policy & strategy formulation, planning & designing, financial & economic analyses, appraisals and negotiations with financers for individual projects with management of planning, multi-disciplinary consultants, traffic planning & environmental permitting.Extensive assistance in project implementation including: employee recruiting, empowerment & deployment; construction of roads, buildings, etc; procurement of vehicles/transports, plants (with installation), equipment, tools & materials; fund procurements & disbursements. Preparing land use/zoning changes, site development plans and criteria, project research & development. Supervising project operation & maintenance of roads, buildings, vehicles/transports, plants, etc during implementation period.Participating in and leading teams of multi-disciplinary consultants; leading, coordinating, liaison & linking; participation in team work.Assist in quality control management; productivity & efficiency enhancement; sales, marketing & business promotion.Outstanding experiences in effective monitoring & evaluation of projects/ subprojects and assessing project implementation progress and benefits accrued from the projects/subprojects on socio-economic and food & agriculture, forestry, fisheries, livestock and rural development.Training, facilitation & communication skills.Highlights of Experience• Provide services to Local Government Engineering Department in feasibility study, planning & appraisal, socio-economic survey, financial & economic analyses and monitoring & evaluation of Rural Development Projects and Beneficiary Participation & Project Management (BPPM), Small Scale Water Resources Development Sector Project with emphasis on monitoring & evaluation of the benefits from the project interventions (roads, markets, bridges, water management structures, etc.) on socio-economic, food & agriculture, forestry, fisheries, livestock and rural industries development as well as in developing communication and training skills. Discharging duties as Local Counterpart of Expatriate Economists.• Provide services to Ministry of Agriculture in evaluation of Barendra Integrated Area Development Project and North East Minor Irrigation Project with assessment of the benefits from the project interventions on socio-economic and food & agriculture, forestry, fisheries, livestock and rural development in developing rural training & communication skills of different rural institutes.• Provide services to Department of Agriculture Extension in monitoring & evaluation of Integrated Agricultural Production & Water Management Project and conducting Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use Study and Homestead and Farming Systems Study and in implementation, monitoring & evaluation of Marginal & Small Farming Systems Crop Intensification Project. • Assist Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council in assessing agricultural land loss and utilization.• Provide services to Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation, Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation, Assist Department of Fisheries in feasibility study of Fourth Fisheries Project (DFID assistance), Department of Livestock Services and ATDP-II (USAID) in socio-economic, marketing, financial, technological & environmental feasibility studies & baseline/benchmark surveys; planning & designing, financial & economic analyses, appraisals and negotiations with financers; implementation including: employee recruiting, empowerment & deployment; construction, procurement of vehicles/transports, plants, equipment, tools & materials (fertilizers, chemicals, etc.); rubber plantation & processing and timber extraction & processing; livestock & poultry farming providing veterinary services, training of Fish Feed Millers Association on Financial Management, supervising project operation & maintenance; quality control management; productivity & efficiency enhancement; sales, marketing & business promotion; monitoring & evaluation of projects; discharging duties as Local Counterpart of Expatriate Economists.• Provide services to Bangladesh Water Development Board in conducting Feasibility Study of Muhuri Kahua Flood Control Project (MKFCP), Mitigation Planning for Fisheries and Navigation under Second Small Scale Flood Control, Drainage & Irrigation Project, Benchmark Surveys & Evaluation Studies of Second Small Scale Flood Control, Drainage & Irrigation Project, Agriculture & Fisheries Development Studies of FCD-III Project.• Assist Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Authority in evaluation of Jamuna Bridge Resettlement Project. Professional EmploymentsEmployer: N&A Petroleum, Inc.(Chevron Gas Statn), 1000 W Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach, FL 33404 Position: Sales Associate; Period: January 2005 to dateDuties: Provide customer services and sell gas & grocery commodities; assist Manager as asked for, etc.Employer: Cumberland Farms, 7228 N Military Trail, Riviera Beach, Florida 33407Position: Customer Service Associate; Period: August 2004 - December 2005Duties: Provide customer services and sell gas & grocery commodities; assist Manager as asked for, etc.Employer: K-Beverage, 2511 Westgate Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33409, USA.Position: Sales Assistant; Period: July 2004 – August 2004Duties: Provide customer services and sell grocery commodities; assist Manager as asked for, etc., Employer: Kranti Associates Ltd., House 38/3, Road 16, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh Position: Agri. Economist (Management/Planning/Monitoring/Evaluation/Survey/Credit Consultant)Period: December 1992 – June 2004Assignments/Duties:1. Benefit Monitoring & Evaluation (BME) Specialist, Rural Development Project–21 (RDP-21), Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), (ADB/JBIC/IFAD/SIDA assistance). 2. Socio-Economics Specialist, Study on Impact of Rural Infrastructure Development Projects on Poverty, LGED. 3. Socio-Economics Specialist, ‘Study on Impact Evaluation of Rokeya Memorial Center Connecting Roads and Linkage Roads, Rangpur. 4. Sr. Agricultural Economist, ‘Soil Fertility & Fertilizer Use Study’, Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).5. Sr. Agricultural Economist, ‘Agricultural Land Loss Assessment Project’, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC).6. Sr. Evaluation Specialist, ‘Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Resettlement Project’, Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Authority (JMBA) (WB/IDA assistance).7. Sr. Agricultural Economist, Kranti Associates Ltd., House # 38/3, Road # 16 (New), Dhanmondi R/A, (supporting and preparing/presenting technical/financial proposals).8. Sr. Evaluation Specialist, Barendra Integrated Area Development Project (BIADP), Barendra Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), Ministry of Agriculture.9. Agricultural Economics & Socio-Economics Specialist, Beneficiary Participation & Project Management (BPPM), SSWRDSP, LGED, (ADB, IFAD & GON assistance).10. Team Leader, Monitoring & Evaluation Services (MES), ‘Integrated Agricultural Production & Water Management Project’ DAE, LGED & BWDB (IFAD assistance).11. Research Economist, ‘Feasibility Study of Muhuri Kahua Flood Control Project’, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).12. Team Coordinator & Agricultural Economist, ‘Mitigation Planning for Fisheries & Navigation, SSSFCDI, BWDB (WB/IDA assistance).13. Team Coordinator & Agricultural Economist, ‘Benchmark Surveys & Evaluation Studies, SSSFCDI’, BWDB (WB/IDA assist.).14. Economist, ‘Second Rural Roads and Markets Improvement & Maintenance Project’, LGED (EEC assistance).15. Team Coordinator & Agricultural Economist, ‘Agriculture & Fisheries Development Studies, 3rd Flood Control & Drainage (FCD-III) Project, BWDB (WB/IDA assistance).16. Team Coordinator & Agricultural Economist, ‘Homestead & Farming Systems Study’, Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) (CIDA/GON assistance).Employer: Agro-industries Technologies Dev. Project-II, Gulshan-2, Dhaka, Bangladesh (USAID Support)Position: Agricultural Economist (Part-time); Period: October 2002Duties: Training of Fish & Shrimp Feed Millers on Financial Management, Monitoring & Evaluation.Employer: Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation Division, Ministry of Planning, Dhaka, BangladeshPosition: Advisor (Part-time) Period: November 2000- March 2001Duties: Evaluation of North East Minor Irrigation Project’, Ministry of Agriculture (ADB assistance).Employer: Lutheran World Services and DAE, BARI, RDRS, Bangladesh Bank (IFAD assistance) Position: Team Leader-cum-Agricultural Economist Period: September 1992-November 1992 Duties: Leading multi-disciplinary team of specialists of Marginal & Small Farming Systems Cropping Intensification Project, survey, training, extension, social development, credit, monitoring & evaluation. Employer: Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation, 73, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000Position: General Manager (Planning & Dev.) Period: January 1982 – August 1992 Duties: Planning, monitoring, evaluation, survey/study, feasibility study, financial/economic analyses. Employer: Planning Commission & Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka-1000Position: Deputy Chief (NCRT), Planning Commission Period: December 1980 – January 1981 Duties: Project management, study, evaluation and monitoring of rural training, extension & research.Employer: Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation, 23-24, Dilkusha C/A, Dhaka-1000Position: Planning Officer Period: February 1979-December 1980Duties: Planning, monitoring, evaluation, survey/study, feasibility study, financial/economic analyses.Ministry of Agriculture (Fisheries & Livestock Division), Secretariat, Dhaka-1000, BangladeshPosition: Chief Economist (Planning & Evaluation)/Project Director (Study); Period: Jan 1977-Jan 1979Duties: Planning, monitoring, evaluation, survey/study, feasibility study, financial/economic analyses.Tropical Agro-Consult Ltd., 23, Elephant Road, DhakaAgricultural Economist (Planning & Development) Period: July 1973 – December 1976Duties: Planning, monitoring, evaluation, survey/study, feasibility study, financial/economic analyses.Education /CertificationsMaster of Science in Agricultural Economics (Specialization in Production Economics & Farm Management) 1st Class, 1974 (Exam. Held in 1976); Thesis: ‘Comparative Financial and Economic Studies of Different Irrigation Technologies in Bangladesh’ – conducted in 2 years from July 1974 to June 1976); 33 credits.Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics (Honors) 1st Class, 1973 (Exam. Held in 1974); 101.5 credits? Other Training: Agricultural Census, Project Management System; Feasibility Studies; Practices of Project Management Principles; Water Resources Management sponsored by USAID; Group-based Extension of Farming Systems; Project Planning Matrix Formulation; Organization, Development, Banking Plan and Micro-Credit Finance & Management, Participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal, People’s Participation in Project Planning & Appraisal; Feasibility Study of Rural Infrastructures Development Project; Computer Skill: Excellent Reporting using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, PhotoShop.

So much experience, so a tenuous grasp on the world

ozzy:"slag others off" - ha!ha!ha! silly you - split infinitive!!! try again.